Where's the Fun in Being a Fan?

As my New York Rangers went down to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup, a sadness fell over me like a wet blanket. Sure I was frustrated, but it's that feeling of loss that weighs so heavy. You feel like you've lost a friend who let you down in the process.

I've been a Ranger fan since the season of 1968-69. I've been a Met and Jet fan since 1968 as well as Knick fan. Imagine being a fan of these four teams and after following them for a year as a 7 year old, three of them won their championships. The Jets have not won a Super Bowl since, and rarely compete. The Knicks won one more in 1973 and have come up empty since. The Mets won their last World Championship in 1986. The most recent championship of all those teams, came from the New York Rangers back in 1994. That was 30 years ago. It's been 30 years since any of the teams I root for won a championship. Of course if I were a Yankee fan or NY Giant fan, this story would be quite different.

I will say the complexion of my fandom has changed over the years. I have evolved, and many more personal and important things have come and gone in my 55 years of being a sports fan. Despite all that, I still have a connection to these teams. Some kind of loyalty and support that keeps bringing me back. Bringing back for what? A championship? So with that I could then say I am a fan of the best team in their respective sport? I can celebrate and feel a part of something special? What is that exactly?

If you stop and think about any sporting event, the outcome is the outcome. In most cases there is a winner and a loser. The difference to any of these events is the perspective. The game ends the same for everyone watching or rooting. The feeling we get from it, is derived by us individually. We create a desire for a particular outcome, and then react according to the result.

Typically you hear terms like "we won!!!". We? Did we play? Did we really have anything to do with the physical outcome of the game? Of course, if our team disappoints us and loses, many fans will lash out with blame and disappointment and pointing fingers and maybe flipping a few. That's when we hear things like, "these guys stink". Or, "he's a bum and over paid". Perhaps the old, "this coach has got to go."

As I have said, my degree of intensity of being a fan has varied over the years. I don't consider myself a "fair weather" fan as I am still a supporter of the same teams since 1968-69. Lord knows they have lost much more than won. Perhaps that is the very reason I continue to support them.

I've always considered myself more of an underdog. That leads me to support those who overachieve unexpectedly. Classic example, out of the box as a fan was the 1969 World Champion New York Mets. I think the thrill of collectively achieving something most didn't expect of you, is far more rewarding than winning something you were expected to win. That's one of the many reasons I could never be a New York Yankee fan. Nothing wrong with it. Just not for me.

Last season I tongue in cheek wrote an article about filing for divorce from the NY Mets. I suppose the main reason I was feeling that way was derived from just what I stated above. The team was supposed to win. They turned out to be terrible underachievers, and before they could possibly right the ship, the owner started selling off players. This just left a bad taste in my mouth.

The reality is that sports is big business. We now end up rooting for an entity rather than a conglomerate of specific players on a team. I will say this past season's New York Knicks team however, did create a more emotional bond because of the over accomplishing and hard play of a group of men. These moments seem to be farther and fewer between.

The real reason for my writing this blog was to figure out what really drives us to be fans. Why we invest so much time and often money. Some of us parade around in our teams colors and jerseys on a regular basis. Some develop unique superstitions on game day etc.

Something I've noticed more recently with a couple of co-workers, is that neither can actually watch the game their team is playing in. Particularly if the game is one carrying great importance. They watch theirs phones and check the score. One may sometimes actually peek at the game, but then has to look away.

So my question becomes. Is this enjoyment? If the stress of something is such that you can't even watch, then why do you get involved in caring about the outcome? Or is that just it? The outcome is all that matters. You don't REALLY enjoy the game, but if the entity that you have attached yourself to emotionally, ends up winning, then you feel good. Then I ask....feel good about you? Them? Both?

That's not to say that many folks don't still have fun with being fans collectively of a team. It can create friendships or divide families, but usually it's kept in perspective. As I get later into my life, once again another perspective has changed. Sports are here for my entertainment. If I'm not being entertained by what I'm seeing, I'll just spend my time elsewhere. Of course, winning is always a nicer experience than losing. However, watching a team or player go above and beyond their expectations is still inspiring to me.

This play-off season with the NY Rangers was fun to watch. Yes, I'm disappointed. However, I can now shake it off like a rainy day when I had beach plans. It's not the end of the world. I often say " if I have a bad day, does anyone on the Mets really care? So why should I let their bad day affect me too deeply?"

One of the enjoyable things to happen for me during the Rangers play-offs was connecting with childhood friends while watching the game, via texting. One friend was in Phoenix, where he now resides, another on Long Island. We would comment on the game and of course inevitably other things. We would often crack each other up over some wisecrack or old childhood reference. In this case, being a fan of the same team brought us together for a time every other night for a few weeks. Despite the outcome of the series, it was a fun experience because of the reconnection with buddies.

The other aspect of the times, is the social media response of fans about the team or players they support. Like many things in social media, the vitriol and anger over sports is almost sad. Sports are not there for us to unleash our life frustrations. Or maybe, some of you believe it is? That's up to you, I suppose. I just think it's errant anger and energy not well spent. I have read some incredibly hurtful and nasty things being posted online. If being a fan is more about anger and frustration than fun, then it's time to reassess perhaps.

In wrapping this up, I will add some other things I read about sports fandom. If you search online for origin of spectator sports you will find some interesting reading. It varies from possibly having some religious differences between locations, to towns and cities with opposing views, using sport to decide outcomes.

Thankfully, we've moved away from that, at least for now. Maybe we can just sit back and watch the game once in awhile for the beauty of the sport itself. Appreciate the athleticism of a player, no matter the team.

I'm not going to lie. I will still root for my teams. I will still get frustrated. I will not let it stir up anger in me or ruin my day. Life's too short for that.

Whatever the sport or team or person you are a fan of, make sure you have some fun along the way!

Sunshine Always!!!